The Media and Airlines

It always happens. Actually, I think I have heard the comment, “they come in threes.” What am I talking about? The piss poor media coverage from ALL media outlets when it comes to potential air disasters in the making. Just like NASCAR or a high speed chase in Los Angeles, media [lack of] organizations dial in for one reason. And it is not because it is newsworthy, but to see a ball of flame and dead bodies when the inevitable crash occurs.

That brings me to this “gem” of a news story on Reuters, Planes in trouble become staple of US cable TV . “It’s like the freeway chases of a few years ago — it’s good pictures, it’s compelling and there’s easy access to the pictures.” Now, there have been a few mishaps or incidents the past month or so, planes sliding off runways, a passenger being shot for being stupid, land gear issues, engine issues. Folks, these are ALL common occurrences in the airline industry. I know, I see it and deal with it everyday (well, when I am actually at work).

Having a flight come in with some potentially big problem is commonplace. It probably happens at least once a day, the airport will roll the emergency equipment to the side of the runway. I guess it is all the things that happen that the traveling public doesn’t know about that would truly scare them.But when there is a “major” event involving an airplane is it bound to grab the attention of the media hounds, even when it is not newsworthy.

I think this bimbo, Kelly McBride who studies, “media ethics” [nice contradiction in terms] sums it up nicely, “You could be really cynical and say that we’re all stupid and easily entertained but I think it says something about the power of stories in our culture,” McBride said by telephone. Yup Kelly, you are right on one account. I leave it to you to figure out what that is.